Towel dispensing apparatus



Oct. 25, 1960 I l. L. LESAVOY TOWEL DISPENSING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1958 INVENTOR I. LAWRENCE LESAVOY BY w mm ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1960 TOWEL DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 LAWRENCE LESAVOY BY MV-M A-n-oRNYs 1. L. LESAVOY 2,957,636

Oct. 25, 1960 a. L. LESAVOY TOWEL DISPENSING APPARATUS I5 Sheets-Shea.

Filed Jan. 22, 1958 INVENTCR I. LAWRENCE LESAVOY BY h wi U H" n l" fll l ul l l ATTO RNEYS United States Patent fiice TOWEL DISPENSING APPARATUS I. Lawrence Lesavoy, 350 5th 'Ave., New York 1, N.Y.

Filed Jan. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 710,392

5 Claims. (Cl. 242-5553) My invention relates to a new and improved machine for dispensing selected lengths of a web of either paper toweling or cloth toweling.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial Number 639,143, filed on February 8, 1957, in the Patent Oflice of the United States of America, under the title Towel Dispensing Means, now US. Patent No. 2,861,856, dated November 25, 1958.

According to one feature of my invention, I provide time-delay or time-control means which are wholly mechanical and which consist wholly of rigid parts and springs, thus eliminating the use of suction cups and other pneumatic devices.

In another feature of my invention, I provide a twopiece cabinet or casing, consisting of a front section and a rear section which are movable relative to each other, One section of this cabinet, such as the body of the cabinet, carries a rotatable measuring roll. The other section of this cabinet, such as the cover of the cabinet, carries a friction roll. When these sections are moved apart in order to open the cabinet, the friction roll is automatically separated from the measuring roll. A spirally wound magazine roll of the paper or cloth web can be easily inserted into either section of the open cabinet, and the end of the web can be easily passed below the cabinet before closing the cabinet. When the cabinet is closed, the end of the web is automatically pressed between the measuring roll and the friction roll, so that a pull upon the end of the web which is below the closed cabinet will automatically turn the measuring roll and the friction roll in unison, and without any slip between the pulled end of the web and said measuring roll and said friction roll. This construction makes it unnecessary to thread the end of the web between the measuring roll and the friction roll.

As another feature of my invention, I provide improved and adjustable time-delay means for controlling the dispensing of the paper or cloth web. The improved time-delay means have a minimum number of parts and are easily adjustable.

As another feature of my invention, I provide improved means for dispensing a plurality of webs from a single cabinet or casing.

As another feature of my invention, I provide improved means for dispensing a non-tearable web, such as a web of cloth toweling.

In each embodiment, the measuring roll is rotated in each complete cycle in a single direction through a single complete rotation of 360 degrees. In each embodiment, during each complete cycle, there is an initial partial cycle in which the measuring roll is rotated by a pull upon the free end of the web through a partial rotation, as through an angle of 180 degrees or 270 degrees, or any other angle less than 360 degrees. In said embodiment at the end of said initial partial rotation, the measuring roll is automatically locked in position by the timedelay mechanism, during a selected and adjustable locking period. At the end of said locking period, in said embodiment the time-delay mechanism releases the measuring roll, which is automatically turned through the remainder of the respective complete rotation of 360 degrees. 7

Several embodiments of my invention are disclosed in the following description and the annexed drawings.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment, showing the front cover section of the cabinet turned away from the rear section of the cabinet.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the closed cabinet.

Fig. 3 is a side-view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, illustrating one type of time-delay mechanism.

In this embodiment, the measuring roll is turned 180 degrees by pulling the free end of the web. In this Fig. 3 the parts of the time-delay mechanism are shown in their position after the pulling operation upon the free end of the web has begun and before said pull has been completed.

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3, showing the position of the parts of the time-delay mechanism subsequent to the stage of Fig. 3, but prior to the end of the pulling operation.

Fig. 5 is similar to Figs. 3 and 4, showing the positions of the parts of the time-delay mechanism after the pull on the free end of the web has been completed, and prior to the release of the measuring roll by the timedelay means.

Fig. 6 is a view of the highly preferred time-delay mechanism, showing its parts in idle position, prior to pulling the free end of the web.

Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 6, showing the parts of the time-delay mechanism at the end of the pull upon the free end of the web, and while the measuring roll is locked by the time-delay mechanism, before the timedelay mechanism has been moved in its reverse stroke to release the measuring roll. 1

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 2 of a device for dispensing a plurality of webs.

Fig. 9 is a section of an embodiment in which a web of cloth toweling is dispensed.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

First embodiment, Figs. 1-5

Cabinet C has a front section or cover 2 which has a bottom wall 2a; and a rear section 3, which has a bottom wall 3a. Said bottom walls 2a and 3a are conveniently shown in Fig. 2 in horizontal position, without limitation to said position. These bottom walls 2:: and 3a are connected by pivots or common horizontal hinges 5, whose common axis is perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 2. For convenience, the horizontal direction of the the axis of the pivots or hinges 5 is designated as the lateral direction. Sections 2 and 3 are releasably connected by latch 4 when cabinet C is closed. Sections 2 and 3 have side-walls which may overlap when cabinet C is in the closed position of Fig. 2, so that the closed cabinet C has flat and vertical and transversely disposed side-walls S and SA, which are spaced laterally from each other.

A plate 7 is fixed to one of the transverse side-walls of rear section 3. Said plate 7 has a transverse, vertical, flat flange 7a.

A rear cradle 8 is fixed to rear section 3 and a front cradle is fixed to front section or cover 2. These cradles 8 and 80 may be fixed to the side-walls of their respective sections 3 and 2. These cradles are of any suitable shape. They may be identical.

The rotatable measuring roll 9 is fixed to a lateral and horizontal shaft 10, which is turnably mounted in rear section 3. Said shaft 10 may have one bearing in a side-wall of rear section 3. The shaft 10 may have any Patented 'Oct. 25, "1960 standard means in its said bearing, to permit said shaft to turn only in the direction 19.

A friction roll 11 has a lateral and horizontal shaft, which is turnably mounted in front section or cover 2.

The shaft of friction roll 11 may have bearings in the transverse side-walls of front section 2.

The measuring roll 9 may be made of resilient and elastic material, such as vulcanized rubber, or it may have a rigid core and a resilient and elastic sleeve. The friction roll 11 may be made of rigid material.

The shaft of friction roll 11 may be turnably mounted in horizontal and parallel slots of the side-walls of front section 2, and a biasing spring, which is exemplified by blade spring 12, biases friction roll 11 to press against measuring roll 9 when cabinet C is closed. One end of spring 12 is fixed to cover 2. This spring 12 may be of any type, such as a tension spring connected to each end of the shaft of roll 11.

The front bottom wall 2a has a lateral slit 14. Said slit 14 has a serrated edge, for ease in tearing olf the end RA of the web of paper or other tearable material which is wound in a spiral magazine roll R, either with or without rigid core 6.

When the front section or cover 2 is turned down to open the cabinet C as'shown in: Fig. l, the magazine roll R is easily inserted into the open end of rear section 3 or into cover 2, in order to support the magazine roll R on either cradle 80 or 8a while the cabinet is open. The roll R is turnably supported on both cradles 8a and 8b, when the cabinet is closed. These cradles may be identical. The cradle 8 has respective laterally spaced edges 8a and 8b.

While the cabinet is open, the free end vRA of magazine roll R is led across the measuring roll 9, and through the slit 14 in the front bottom wall 2a of the open cabinet. The front section or cover 2 is then closed, thus automatically placing cradle 80 into position to support magazine roll R at a part of the periphery thereof, and also automatically pressing the free end RA of the paper web between friction roll 11 and measuring roll 9.

The magazine roll R is thus turnably supported upon the cradles 8c and 8, between the side walls S and SA of the closed cabinet C and said roll R is also supported between the cradles 8c and 8 upon the ribs 15a of rneasuring roll 9, between the recesses 15 of said roll 9. The roll R may optionally have a core 6 of suflicient weight to produce good frictional contact between rolls R and 9.

As one example, when cabinet C is thus closed, the free end RA may extend five inches or about 125 millimeter below the horizontally located front bottom wall When said free end RA is manually pulled in order to start a pulling step, the rolls 11 and 9 move in exact unison with the web to turn magazine roll R, and the magazine roll R is also frictionally turned by the ribs 15a of measuring roll 9. These ribs 15:: extend through the lateral space between the cradles 8c and 8 to contact frictionally with the periphery of magazine roll R.

The horizontal and lateral axis of magazine roll R is oflset transversely relative to the horizontal and lateral axis of shaft 10, so that the axis of roll R is located forwardly of the axis of shaft 10. This gives a good area of contact between end RA and ribs 15a, in order to prevent slip between end RA and measuring roll 9 or friction roll 11, and also makes it easier to turn measuring roll 9 by a pull on end RA.

T fine-delay mechanism of first embodiment of Figs. 1-5

This time-delay mechanism may be used with any embodiment.

A rigid, vertical and transverse plate 16 is fixed rigidly to vertical and transverse flange 7a of plate 7 of rear section 3, by means of lateral and horizontal posts 28.

At one end thereof, the shaft 10 has a reduced and non-cylindrical end 10a. This end 10a may be of a square or polygonal cross-section. One end of cylindrical shaft 10 has a bearing in a side-wall of rear section 3. The other end of the cylindrical part of shaft 10 has a bearing in flange 7a. The end 10a of shaft 10 extends laterally between flange 7a and plate 16, and also through plate 16.

A vertical and transverse plate 18 is fixed to shaft 10, so that plate 18 turns in unison with measuring roll 9. This plate 18 has a slot 18a, which is closed at both ends thereof. The end 10a of shaft 10 extends through any selected part of slot 18a, and the butterfly screw 17 releasably clamps plate 18 in its selected and adjusted position to end 10a of shaft 10.

The length of the time-delay period can be selected by locating the end 10a of shaft 10 in any selected part of slot 18a.

The respective ends of .a spring 20 are fixed at 22 to flange 7a, and at 21 to plate 18.

At the beg-inning of each pulling step or pulling operation upon end RA, the spring 20 is relaxed and does not exert any torque upon plate 18 or upon the measuring roll 9 to which plate 18 is fixed by means of shaft 10.

Even if spring 20 has some initial torque prior to a pulling step, such torque is insufficient to turn measuring roll 9 in .a direction reverse to arrow 19.

A gear-segment 25 is pivoted at horizontal and lateral pivot 26 to plate 16. This -gear-segment 25 has an arcuate row of spur teeth 27, which are disposed concentrically relative to pivot 26.

At one face thereof, gear-segment 25 has a succession of ratchet recesses of any desired number, such as the ratchet recesses 29, 30, 31, 32.

One end of a spring 48 is fixed to gear-segment 25, and the other end of said spring 48 is fixed to plate 7a. When the parts of the time-delay mechanism are in initial normal position, prior to pulling upon end RA, the spring 48 is relaxed so that it does not exert any torque upon gear-segment 25 which would turn gear-segment 25 in a direction reverse to arrow 19a.

A spur gear 36 has a part thereof located intermediate plate 16 aud flange 7a. This spur gear 36 is fixed to a rotatable shaft 34. One end of shaft 34 has a bearing in flange 7a, and said end of shaft 34 is turnable in said bearing around a horizontal axis. The other end of shaft 34 is located turnably in a horizontal and transverse slot 35 of plate 16.

The upper end of a blade spring 44 is fixed to plate 16. The lower end of blade spring 44 biases shaft 34 to its position shown in Fig. 3, in which the small spurgear 33, which is also fixed to shaft 34, is in mesh with the spur-gear 27 of gear-segment 25. A tension spring may be used as a biasing spring, instead of blade spring 44.

When spur-gear 33 is in mesh with teeth 27, the spurgear 36 is also in mesh with a small spur gear 37, which is fixed to a shaft 38 which has hearings in plate 16 and flange 7a. An air-vane 42, which is adjustable in order to adjust its air resistance, is fixed to shaft 38.

The plate 18 has horizontal and lateral pins 24 and 23 fixed thereto.

At the beginning of a cycle, the parts of the time-delay mechanism are substantially in the positions of Fig. 3 or close to said positions.

When a pull is exerted upon end RA, the plate 18 is turned clockwise as viewed in Figs. 3, 4, 5, as indicated by arrow 19, in unison with measuring roll 9. This extends spring 20 and causes it to exert tension upon plate 18 and measuring roll 9, but the pull on end RA easily overcomes this tension.

The pins 24 and 23 of plate 18 successively come into contact with gear-segment 25, thus turning gear-segment 25 in the clockwise direction of arrow 19a, as viewed in Figs. 3, 4, 5. After a short initial turn of measurin roll 9, the forward pin 24 and the ratchet recess 29 prevent any reverse, counterclockwise turning .of measuring roll 9, if the end RA is released.

When the gear-segment 2:5 is turned in the direction;

of arrow 19a, the teeth 27 exert a thrust upon spur gear 33, thus shifting shaft 34 to unmesh spur gear 33 from teeth 27, and also to unmesh spur gear 36 from spur.

gear 37. The spur gear 33 may shift back and forth between its meshing and unmeshing position relative to teeth 27. In any event, there is no perceptible actuation of the air-vane 42, during the time that a pull is exerted upon end RA. In effect, the action is the same as though the time-delay mechanism .were operated by member 25 through a one-way clutch, thus avoiding operation of the time-delay mechanism during the pull on end RA, so that said pull can be quick and easy, and is sulficient to exceed the tension of springs 20 and 48 which result from said pull.

At the end of a pull on end RA, the parts of the timedelay mechanism are in the positions shown in Fig. 5.

The tensed spring 20 is now in position to complete the rotation of measuring roll 9 through an angle of 360 degrees, in the direction of arrow 19. The rotatable plate 18 and its pin 23 now clear the gear-segment 25. The spur gear 33 now meshes with teeth 27, and spur gear 36 now meshes with spur gear 37. The tensed spring 48 is now ready to turn gear-segment 25 reversely, back to its initial normal position.

The pin 24 now abuts a flange of gear-segment 25, at a point which is close to the level of pivot 26 of gearsegment 25, so that plate 18 exerts a small or negligible counterclockwise torque upon gear-segment 25, even though spring 20 is under tension. The plate 18 is temporarily locked against further clockwise rotation, until pin 24 has cleared the flange of gear-segment 25. Said flange of gear-segment 25 may have an inclined position at the end of a pulling step on end RA, as shown in Fig. 5, or said flange may be vertical or only slightly inclined to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5, at the end of a pulling step.

Hence, the measuring roll 9 will remain locked, until spring 48 has turned gear-segment 25 in a reverse, counterclockwise direction, during a selected time-delay period, and until pin 24 clears gear-segment 25, which is close to the completion of the counterclockwise movement of gear-segment 25.

When pin 24 clears gear-segment 25, the tensed spring 20 promptly turns measuring roll 9 through the balance of the respective rotation of 360 degrees in the direction of arrow 19.

In this example, but without limitation thereto, the pull on end RA turns measuring roll 9 in an initial angle of 180 degrees, and the spring 20 turns measuring roll 9 through a second angle of 180 degrees when plate 18 is released.

By adjusting the position of shaft relative to slot 18a, or by shifting the position of pin 22, the length of the time-delay period can be regulated.

Figs. 6 and 7 These show the highly preferred time-delay mechanism, which can be used with any embodiment in which time-delay is desired.

A ratchet wheel 4% and a cam 49 are fixed to the end 10a of shaft 10 by said butterfly screw 17. A pawl PA has one end pivoted to flange 7a. This pawl PA is biased by the usual spring, not shown, to press the tip'of said pawl against ratchet wheel 49a. This ratchet wheel 49a and said pawl PA exemplify one means for permitting shaft 10 and measuring roll 9 to turn only in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7, when end RA is pulled. There are many well-known alternative means for permitting the rotation of shaft 10 and roll 9 in only a single direction, and any means maybe used for this purpose.

One end of spring 20a is fixed to flange 7a at 20c, and

the other end of spring 20a is fixed to a rigid extension 49c of cam 49. Said extension 49c is bent upwardly from the plane of Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, for the purpose later described. Prior to starting a new pull upon end RA, the spring 20a may be in the relaxed condition and in the position shown in Fig. 6. In this case, the spring 20a may be under tension in initial position, because the axis of spring 20a intersects the axis of shaft 10.

A gear-segment 50 is pivoted at 51 to flange 7a. This gear-segment 50 has a row of spur gear-teeth 52 which are concentric with pivot 51. This gear-segment 50 also has a lug 50c, and a hook 50h. This hook 50h has a locking tface 50a.

One end of a spring 53 is fixed at 54 to gear-segment 50. The other end of spring 53 is fixed at 55 to flange 7a. Prior to pulling the end RA, the spring 53 is straight and relaxed and does not exert any torque upon gearsegment 50.

As an important feature, the gear teeth 52 are always in mesh with means for operating time-delay means.

In this example, the time-delay mechanism includes any number of units which are operated by shaft 56. In this example, there are two units which succeed shaft 56 and said two units have respective shafts 57 and 57a.

These units of this example have intermeshing spurgears. Thus, small gear 56b is fixed to shaft 56, and said gear 56b meshes with a larger spur-gear which is fixed to shaft 57. Similarly, a small spur gear is fixed to shaft 57, and said small gear meshes with a larger spur gear which is fixed to shaft 57a. A pendulum 58a is pivoted to plate 16 at pivot 58. This pendulum 58a may have an adjustable weight of the usual kind, in order to regulate the period of pendulum 58a. This pendulum 58a has two escapement teeth of the usual type, which alternately engage the respective spur gear on shaft 57a, thus regulating the time-delay period. If desired, pendulum 58a may be omitted, and replaced by an adjustable air-vane 42 which is fixed to shaft 57a.

When the end RA is pulled, the shaft 10 and measuring roll 9 are turned in the forward or clockwise d1 rection, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7, thus turning cam 49 in unison with shaft 10, and extending spring 20a from its relaxed or initially tensed condition of Fig. 6.

As later explained, when cam 49 is turned clockwise in unison with shaft 10 by pulling end RA, the gear segment 50 is also turned clockwise by cam 49. During, said clockwise turrung of gear segment 50, its teeth 52 turn spur gear 56a counterclockwise. Teeth 52 and spur gear 56a are always in mesh.

During the pull on end RA, it is desired to keep the time-delay mechanism idle, so that the end RA can be easily and quickly pulled to the desired length.

Hence, in this example, the spur gear 56a is freely turnable on shaft 56. A ratchet wheel 56b is fixed to shaft 56. One end of a pawl P is pivoted to spur gear 56a. The other end of pawl ,P is pressed against the ratchet teeth of ratchet wheel 56b by the usual spring, not shown. Hence, when gear-segment 50 is turned clockwise from its position of Fig. 6 to its position of Fig. 7 as the result of a pull upon end RA, thus turning spur gear 56a counter-clockwise relative to shaft 56, the pawl P will slip along the teeth of ratchet wheel 56b, and shaft 56 will remain stationary. However, when gear-segment 50 is turned reversely or counterclockwise from its locking position of Fig. 7 to its initial position of Fig. 6, the spur gear 56a is biased clockwise relative to shaft 56, and the pawl P will engage the ratchet wheel 56b, and will turn shaft 56 in unison with spur gear 56a and gear-segment 50.

The cam 49 has a forward face 4%, which is slightly convex.

When the end RA is pulled, the cam 49 is turned clockwise in unison. with measuring roll 9. The flange 49e is bent away from the plane of Figs. 6 and 7, and

the cam 49 and the lug 500 are located in said plane. Hence when cam 49 is turned, its flange 49e clears the hook 5012, and the lug 560, without exerting any force upon gear-segment 50. The sole turning force which is exerted by cam 49 upon gear-segment 59, is by means of the forward surface 49b of cam 49 and the end-surface 49c of cam 49. When cam 49 is turned clockwise by a pull on end RA, the faces 4% and 490 consecutively contact with the respective convex face of lug 50c, thus turning gear-segment 50 clockwise from its position of Fig. 6 to its position in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 7, the slightly convex face 4% abuts the slightly convex face 50a of hook 50h, thus temporarily locking cam 49 in its position of Fig. 7, until gear-segment 50 is turned reversely or counterclockwise from its position of Fig. 7, to release the cam 49 at the end of a selected time-delay period.

The temporary locking of the cam 49 is regulated by means additional to the regulation of the time-delay mechanism.

Thus, the radial dimension of face 490, which is concentric with the axis of shaft 10, may be of different radial lengths, as indicated by the broken-line circle CA in Figs. 6 and 7, and the broken arcuate lines in Fig. 6. By decreasing the radius of face 490, the locking period is decreased.

In the locking position shown in Fig. 7, the face 50a is vertical, and the face 4% is urged in a substantially horizontal direction, and the entire face 4% is substantially at the level of pivot 51. Hence the cam 49, which is biased to turn clockwise in Fig. 7 by the extended spring 200, exerts only little or negligible counterclockwise force upon gear-segment 59.

As one example, but without limitation thereto, the end RA may depend in a length of 2.5 inches, or about 62.5 millimeters, below the cabinet C, at the beginning of a pull, and the measuring roll 9 is turned ninety degrees for each movement of 2.5 inches of end RA from its initial position.

In this example, the pull on end RA turns cam 49, shaft 10, and measuring roll 9 through an angle close to 270 degrees from the initial position of Fig. 6 to the temporary locking position of Fig. 7.

The point 20c, at which one end of spring 20a is fixed to flange 7a, may be shifted to the right or left of its position of Figs. 6 and 7, while keeping spring 20a under initial tension in its shifted position. This will regulate the length of the web which is pulled out at each pull, up to the point at which the measuring roll 9 is temporarily locked. The same length RA is pulled out in each cycle, because the measuring roll 9 is turned 360 degrees in each cycle.

Fig. 8

The cabinet resembles the cabinet of Fig. 2, in hav ing a hinge in its bottom wall and a releasable latch at its top.

In this case, the cabinet dispenses three respective webs of paper or other tearable material, from three respective magazine rolls R, RB, and RC, whose respective free ends are designated as RA, RBB and RCC. The free end RBB extends through a slit in front section or cover 2. The free end RA extends through a slit in the bottom wall of the cover 2. The free end RCC extends through a slit in the bottom wall of front section 2 or through a slit in the bottom wall of the rear section 3.

A cylinder 59, which is open at its side ends, is made of material which is rigid, or which is flexible and resilient.

At its bottom, said cylinder 59 is optionally connected to the bottom wall of rear section 3, by means of hinges or pivots which have a lateral horizontal axis, like the hinges or pivots 5.

When the cabinet of Fig. 8 is open, the cylinder 59 can be turned outwardly of rear section 3, so that maga- 8 zine roll RC can at this time be easily inserted into cylinder 59 through one of its open ends. The free end RCC can also be easily inserted at this time through the lateral slit in the bottom wall of front section 2 or of rear section 3.

While the casing is open, the magazine roll RB can be easily inserted into cylinder 61, through either open end of said cylinder 61. While the casing is open, the free end RBB is easily inserted through a horizontal and lateral slit in the upstanding wall of front section 2. This cylinder 61 may be separable from front section 2.

While the casing is open, the large magazine roll R is inserted into position and its free end RA is led through the slit in the bottom wall of the casing. This slit is preferably in the bottom wall of front section 2a, as in the embodiment of Fig. 2.

As in the previous embodiment, when the cabinet C is closed, the ends of magazine roll R abut the inner faces of the side walls of the closed cabinet. The ends of the other magazine rolls RB and RC also abut the inner faces of the side walls of the closed cabinet.

In the closed cabinet, the free end RA of the web of magazine roll R is pressed between the flexible and resilient cylinders 61 and 59, which are subjected to light compression in the closed cabinet, due to the outer diameters of said cylinders 61 and 59. Hence the non-rotating cylinders 61 and 59 replace the rotatable pressure roll 11 and the rotatable measuring roll 9, in subjecting the free end RA to pressure.

This embodiment of Fig. 8 has no time-delay mechanism.

It is thus possible to dispense three webs of material from a single cabinet, such as three webs of paper of different colors and/or properties. One of these webs may be impregnated with a chemical, such as a deodorant.

Figs. 9 and 10 This embodiment can be used for dispensing a cloth towel.

The spiral magazine roll of cloth toweling 63 is optionally wound upon a rigid core 63a. The front section 65 and the rear section 64 of the cabinet are turnably connected at their tops by hinges which have the usual hinge ears 66 and the usual hinge pintles.

When this cabinet is closed, the side walls of sections 64 and 65 may abut or overlap, as in previous embodiments, and the bottom walls of 64 and 65 may abut each other or overlap.

The bottom of magazine roll 63 is supported upon a cradle 68, which has laterally spaced side walls 68a and 68b and an arcuate bottom wall 69. These side walls 68a and 68b are fixed to respective plates 71a, which have cylindrical bores through which a cylindrical and non-rotatable bar or fixed shaft 70 extends with a close fit. These plates 71a are freely turnable on the fixed shaft 71. Hanger plates 74 have bores through which fixed shaft 70 extends with a close fit. These hanger plates 74 are fixed to a part of the arcuate bottom 69 of cradle 68.

The fixed shaft 70 is fixed at its side ends to supporting plates 71, which are fixed to laterally spaced and angular plates 72, which are fixed by releasable fastening members 73 to the walls of rear section 64.

This magazine roll 63 has a free end B. The front edge of bottom wall 69 of cradle 68 is identified by a non-rotatable cylindrical edge 75 which has a depending plate 76.

The side edge-parts of the free end B of magazine roll 63 contact with laterally spaced and turnable guide rolls 77. Each guide roll 77 is turnable in a socket 77a, which is fixed to the front wall of front section 65. Since these guide rolls 77 are spaced laterally from each other and since the cloth material is easily foldable.

it is easy to thread the free end B between the laterally spaced guide rolls 77.

Below the guide rolls 77, the free end B first contacts with a part of the first turnable guide roll 78, which is fixed to shaft 79, to which a spur gear 80 is fixed. This shaft 79 has bearings in the vertical, transverse and laterally spaced flanges 72a of the side plates 72.

The turnable roll 78 is associated with a second guide roll 81, which is fixed to a shaft 82, which is turnable in hearings in laterally spaced plates 83, which are fixed by fastening members 84 to said flanges 72a of said side plates 72, which, as previously noted, are fixed to the rear section 64. 1

The free end B is then passed through a horizontal and lateral slit in the front wall of front section 65.

The free end B forms a loop EE under the bottom wall of the cabinet. This loop has a front inlet leg and a rear return leg. 7 l

The return leg of loop EE passes through a horizontal, lateral slit in the bottom wall of the cabinet, and in contact with a part of a third turnable roll 85, which is fixed to a shaft 86, to which the spur gear 87 is fixed.

This shaft 86 has bearings in the transverse, laterally spaced flanges 72a of the angular plates 72.

The gears 87 and 80 are equal and mesh with an intermediate equal spur gear 90, which is fixed to horizontal and lateral shaft 91, which has hearings in the transverse, and laterally spaced flanges 72a of angular plates 72, like the horizontal and lateral shafts 79 and 86.

The transverse and vertical flanges 72a of plates 72 have inclined and laterally spaced slots 89, in which the end-shaft 88b of a take-up roll 88 is slidable and turnable. When a fresh magazine roll 63 is inserted into the cabinet, the end of free end'E is fixed to saidtake-up roll 88, whose horizontal and lateral shaft 88b is at the bottom ends of slots 89 at this time. At this time, the take-up roll 88 is in frictional contact with the third roll 85. If several layers of the cloth are initially. wound upon the take-up roll 88 before closing the cabinet and dispensing the toweling therefrom, the outermost layer of wound-up cloth contacts frictionally with the third roll 85.

As viewed in Fig. 9, the rolls 78 and 85 are turned counter-clockwise and clockwise, respectively. The roll 85 frictionally turns the take-up roll 88 counterclockwise to wind the cloth spirally upon said take-up roll 88, and in exact unison with rolls 85, 78, 81, so that the loop EE is always of the same length. There is good frictional grip between third roll 85 and the cloth which is wound upon the take-up roll 88, so that a tight, spiral roll of cloth is maintained upon the take-up roll 88 at all times.

As the external diameter of the wound-up cloth upon.-

wind-up roll 88 is increased, with a corresponding decrease in the external diameter of magazine roll 63, the shaft 88b of windup roll 88 slides upwardly in slots 89, to a final position 8811, in which all the material of magazine roll 63 has been wound upon wind-up roll 88, as indicated by the broken circular line 63b.

When the external diameter of the spiral take-up roll on take-up roll 88 is sulficiently large, said take-up roll upwardly tilts the cradle 68 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 9, until the rounded edge 75 of bottom 69 of cradle 68 finally abuts the top rear of rear section 64, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 9.

A compact structure is thus provided, because the spiral roll of soiled toweling takes the space originally occupied by the original magazine roll 63.

A time-delay mechanism or time-control M of any type can be associated with shaft 79 of the second roll 78. Without limitation thereto, said time-delay mechanism M may be of the types previously disclosed. The type of Fig. 6 and 7 is preferred.

The second roll 78 may be considered as being the measuring roll in this embodiment. In this embodiment, a pull on the front leg E of the loop EE is suflicient to t .10 turn said measuring roll 78 through a complete rotation of 360 degrees, before temporarily locking measuring roll 78.

For this purpose, if the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7 is used, the spring 20a is omitted, and the hook 50k and front wall 49b are initally located, in the position of Fig. 6, so that cam 49 will be turned through a complete rotation of 360 degrees, before abutting front face 49b of cam 49 against wall 50a of hook 50h.

In order to insert a fresh magazine roll into the cabinet, the front section 65 is turned upwardly around the common axis of hinges 66, the shaft 885 of take-up roll 88 is raised from slots 89 together with the roll of soiled toweling 63b, and said take-up roll 88 and its roll 63b are removed. The cradle 68 is then free to turn back to its initial position of Fig. 9.

A suitable stop is provided, to prevent cradle 68 from being lowered below its position of Fig. 9. Thus, the hangers, 74 may have stop pins which are slidable in partial grooves of the fixed shaft 70, so that said stop pins contact with the stop-ends of said grooves when cradle 68 is in the initial position of Fig. 9.

While the cabinet in open, the longitudinal edges of the free end E of magazine roll 63 are inserted between the inner face of the front wall of front section 65 and the rolls 77; and said free end B is then passed around the respective contacting part of measuring roll 78, between measuring roll 78 and and its companion roll 81, and through the slit of front wall of front section 65. Since the companion roll 81 is pivoted to the bars 83, which are pivoted by pivots 84 to the transverse flanges of plates 72, it is easy temporarily to separate roll 81 from roll 78 and from the inner face of the front wall of front section 65, so that the end B canbe easily threaded between rolls 78 and 81, and between roll 81 and the inner face of the front wall of front section 65.

Below the roll 85, the bottom wall of the cabinet is detachable. The entire bottom wall of the cabinet may be detachable.

While the bottom of the cabinet is thus wholly or partially exposed, the free end B is threaded through the slit in the bottom wall of the cabinet, and the top part of free end B is fixed to take-up roll 88, and the ends of shaft 8812 are inserted into the slots 89, so that take-up roll 88 then has the initial position of Fig. 9.

The cabinet is then closed, thus providing a loop EE.

When this loop EE becomes soiled, the front leg E is pulled down, thus shifting the entire soiled loop EE into the cabinet, and exposing a fresh loop EE.

When the front leg of the loop EE is pulled down to expose a fresh loop, the measuring roll 78 is turned in unison with front end B through a complete rotation of 360 degrees, and the shaft 79 of roll 78 is then temporarily locked by the time-delay mechanism. The rotation of roll 78 through an angle of 360 degrees will rotate the roll 85 through an angle of 360 degrees, because rolls 78 and 85 have equal diameters and said rolls 78 and 85 are turned in unison through the same angle by means of the intermeshing gears 80, and 87.

The linear turning movement of the take-up roll 88 is always equal to the linear turning movement of roll 85. As soiled toweling is accumulated upon take-up roll 88, the effect is to increase its original diameter, but the takeup on roll 88 will always be equal in length to the downward movement of the front leg of loop EE, so that said loop EE will always be of the same length, with equal front and rear lengths.

As the soiled toweling is accumulated on take-up roll 88, thus increasing its effective diameter, the outer periphery of said soiled toweling will press against the very smooth and polished bottom face of bottom 69 of cradle 68, with little or no friction between the soiled toweling and the bottom face of bottom 69. Hence, after the exterior diameter of magazine roll 63 has been suitably reduced, the increasing diameter of the soiled toweling 11 upon take-up roll 88 will gradually upwardly tilt cradle 68, without pressing the diminished magazine roll 63 against the stationary walls of the cabinet, until the clean toweling has been substantially wholly used up.

I claim:

1. A towel dispensing device comprising a support for a magazine roll of towel material, said magazine roll having a free pull end, a turnable roll having an inner shaft which is in contact with said free end anterior the outer tip of said free end, said turnable roll being forwardly turnable in unison with said pull end by a pull on said pull end, a control member fixed to the shaft of said turnable roll, one-way time-delay mechanism, an operating member for operating said time-delay mechanism, said operating member being forwardly operable from a normal selected starting position to a final position and being also reversely operable from said final position to said normal selected starting position, said operating member being spring biased into said normal selected starting position, said control member being forwardly turned from selected initial position when said pull end is pulled to turn said roll forwardly, said control member being located to movably abut said operating member and to operate said operating member forwardly when said pull end is pulled, said one-way time-delay mechanism being idle when said operating member is forwardly operated, said operating member having locking means for temporarily locking said control member when said operating member is in its final position, said one-way time-delay mechanism being operatively connected to said operating member to be operated by said operating member when said operating member moves reversely from its final position to its normal selected startin g position.

2. A towel dispensing device according to claim 1 in which said operating member is turnable, and said operating member has teeth which are always in mesh with a gear which actuates said time-delay mechanism.

3. A towel dispensing device according to claim 1 in which said control member is temporarily locked before said roll has turned through a complete stroke of 360 degrees, a spring connected to said control member, said spring being idle when said control member is in selected initial position, said spring being extended when said control member is temporarily locked, said extended spring being operative to turn said control member during the remainder of a complete stroke of 360 degrees.

4. A towel-dispensing device according to claim 1, in which said parts are mounted in a cabinet, and said free end extends out of said cabinet in a single leg.

5. A towel dispensing device according to claim 1, in which said parts are mounted in a cabinet, said free end extends out of said cabinet in a loop which has a front leg and a rear leg, said magazine roll is mounted in said cabinet in an upwardly tiltable cradle which is upwardly tiltable from initial position, said cabinet having therein a wind-up core to which the outer end of said rear leg is connected, said cabinet having upwardly-directed guide means in which said wind-up core is turnable and slidable, said wind-up core having an initial position in said guide means in which said wind-up core and the materal wound thereon are below said cradle, said Wound material on said wind-up core forming a cylindrical body which abuts said cradle and tilts said cradle upwardly when the outer diameter of said cylindrical body reaches a selected limit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 943,279 Smith Dec. 14, 1909 2,140,440 Chidsey Dec. 13, 1938 2,248,193 Price et al. July 8, 1941 2,391,471 Morris Dec. 25, 1945 2,772,937 Tansley Dec. 4, 1956 2,789,638 Hepner Apr. 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 336,590 Germany May 7, 1921 717,221 France Oct. 29, 1931 

